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The stunning Hawaiian sunset is more clichéd than the Vermont country inn, but there's a reason the 50th state's evenings have achieved legendary status. Simply put, they're phenomenal. And no place is this more apparent that in Polihale Beach on the western coast of Kauai. Plant yourself in the sand as the fading sun glints off the waves, its orange rays slanting off the cliffs that jut out into the water.

The spectacular setting sun could, in fact, be called otherworldly. Just north of Polihale State Park is the powerful Polihale heiau (sacred site), one of the points from which the souls of the dead departed the island into the (you guessed it) setting sun. But whatever the reason, this three-mile stretch of beach makes a great vantage point from which to check out the action.

Tip: Be prepared for a long drive on dirt roads out to Polihale State Park, four-wheel drive is preferable. The upside? Little competition.

Published: 29 Apr 2002 | Last Updated: 26 Apr 2012 Details mentioned in this article were accurate at the time of publication

2 Comments:

So they include a beach in Michigan, in the Northern, Midwestern section of the country, among the top ten beaches of the United States and don't include any beaches on Long Island, which is completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. Yeah, that makes sense.